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Chaula's (continued)
The lassis were enormous, and so thick they could have doubled
for dessert. The petis were served with a sweet dip that complimented
their considerable fire. And then the dosas came, on traditional
stainless steel trays with an array of enticing dips. I was
surprised to find the potato filling was combined with sultanas,
which Chaula explained was an example of the influence of
her traditional Gujarati cooking on a dish from the south.
I’ve never tasted anything quite like it.
Chaula started selling frozen Indian meals from her newsagents
in St Pancras Road, but they were so popular she moved into
her current premises on Station Street three years ago. She
now sells her meals through shops across the county. As well
as Gujarati dishes, Chaula also makes meals familiar from
(predominantly Bangladeshi) curry houses, although you can
taste the Gujarati influence. She cooks seasonally, adapting
her menu to fit available ingredients, and unlike other ready-meals
prepared in factories and transported for hundreds of miles,
all her meals are made in Lewes. It’s almost guilt-free
convenience food. And they deliver. We bought some burfi -
Indian sweets made from ground nuts - to take away for dessert,
which meant we had three courses - plus an enormous lassi
- for seven quid each. It’s the cheapest holiday I’ve
ever had. JM
Jo Monroe is the author of 'Star
of India: The Spicy Adventures of Curry' |
